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| Volcano Ride 2008 Date 08/16/08 This certainly was one of the longest one day rides I have done. I got around 560 miles as I parked the bike. There was a good turn out of bikes at the Cafe. I think in the area of 20 bikes. The ride is an annual and hosted by the local COG group. It is a ride around the back side of Mt St Helens. It normally includes a run up the famous Windy Ridge. But this year that road is closed due to a large washout. We started out in 3 groups. The seizure group including Roland, Steve, Dan and others. Then my group that was just me. I was destined to be the loaner on this ride. Then there was another group behind me. As it was going to turn out I was actually going to invent my own ride. After a brief stop at an outlook on 25 we continued south. I fell behind right away due to getting my camera ready. But it was apparent that I would not keep up anyway. As I was heading south on 90 which I assumed went straight thru to Carson. I missed the turn to Curly Creek rd. I should have seen the sign but I was busy trying to id a couple of bikes on the road who I thought may have been our group. |
| In any case I was now unknowingly doing the ride backwards. But I continued on not knowing I was off course. Some miles down the road I found a sign that said pavement ends. What surprised me was it ended NOW. Crap I hit a little drop of to a dirt road at Around 60. Phew I made it. But I know there should not be dirt here. But I continue on and the pavement returns in something less then a mile. At this time I know something is wrong but to back track is a little to long. So lets see where this goes. This is were my adventure ride begins. I have to say there is no way I would have don this on the VTX because of the gas situation. With a range of 140 to 160 from full you don't have the range to explore in the back woods. But with the St and 280 to 300 plus range not problems. |
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So I figure out I am on 90 and going backwards but I am not back tracking so lets find a way to Bingen for lunch. I end up on 88 and find some very interesting roads. I am looking for 141 south. 88 has some short stretches of gravel. Some very bad pavement and some very good pavement. It is really and ST adventure road. There was one very fun stretch of some excellent ONE lane pavement. 2 cars could not get by each other there were many turn outs. Some spots were caves thru trees. I did have the thought that this may be a good route to Maupin? Finally after wandering I find a road marked 141. Well this looks like it lets turn south. Wow this is a nice road. 2 nice lanes nice curves. But the signs list Carson? According to the map 141 should go to the gorge. Why list Carson?? |
As lunch was ending I turned on my phone to erase the VM Roland said he left. While the phone is on it rings. It is the frakn emergency service computer at work. What the I am not on call. But I listen to the message. Usually nothing much but this time it is a total system failure at an Seattle restaurant. They have called 3 times and are pretty upset. So I call my service manager. No answer and I leave a message. I call the next guy no answer, I call the next guy no answer. Frak. Everyone is getting ready to leave. But I have to try to get something going on this call. The good news is that by the time I get to the customer the service manager is all ready working with him. But now everyone has left and I am trailing again. So it is up the road to 142. Have done the ride many times from north to south so this is the first south to north and uphill ride. Uphill is always more fun and the scenery is much nicer (IMO). Did not get lost this time pulled into Trout Lake and found a Chevron station. I am now at 240 miles showing The gas gauge is showing 1/4. So time to gas. It took 5.5 so there should have been over 2 gallons left so that should be 80 to 110 miles left depending on mileage. While at the gas pump I ask the young kid gas Jockey. Is there a store around here on a creek. I am looking for some other riders to meet there. He does not know but there is a store just up the street. Ok I will try that. As I pull away from the pump towards the street. I clear the gas station and there they are right there. The store by the creek is the gas station and I was no more then 50 ft away from the group while I was pumping the gas. The final section was another ST Adventure ride. Another short section of dirt and gravel. Some sink holes some on corners. Some nice sections and some rough ones. I was unable and did not try to keep up with the heart attack section but no big deal. I connected with Dan, Roland, and Steve at the same cafe we started at 8 this morning. It was now around 5 or so. We had some grub and pie and reviewed the day. On the discussion of the return I suggested I5. Yikes here we go again. I made the comment that the flat portion of my tire was now rounded of and I needed to make it flat again lol :} At this point me knee is hurting with over 400 miles of adventure riding and with125 miles to home. I am ready to put the highway pegs out and relax. But I lost the discussion so we headed back up to Hwy 7. |
| After a while the road starts to narrow. Then finally another sign that says pavement ends. This time there is a little more warning and I come to and intersection. Dirt in every direction. There are cars coming up the road I want to take. It is a tunnel of dust. The cars coming are not really visible just shadows. Finally they come out covered in dirt with the dirt rolling off. Well I guess this is the end of this trail. So I head back up the road to Trout lake. Just the other side of Trout Lake I find the 141 I am looking for. I head south and find Bingen. I find the group at the Mexican restaurant. The group has ordered food but it has not arrived yet. I am still full from breakfast so it is just a coke and some chips and salsa for me. Oh yea I still have lots of gas. |
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